Andy Robertson vs. Milos Kerkez – assessing Liverpool’s left-back conundrum – Liverpool FC

Andy Robertson has written himself into Liverpool historical past as one of many membership’s greatest-ever left-backs since arriving in 2017, however Milos Kerkez‘s arrival in the summertime noticed him immediately usurped by the brand new signing.

Whereas Liverpool could also be only one level off the highest of the Premier League desk, the Reds’ performances have been of concern, particularly in current weeks.

Having misplaced three consecutive matches for the primary time in his profession, Arne Slot should now discover options for his stuttering facet that’s struggling to gel.

Although the left-back place is much from Liverpool’s solely difficulty, the introduction of Kerkez, who’s clearly nonetheless a growing participant, has been questioned by some.

With Robertson reminding the Reds of his high quality when coming off the bench towards Chelsea – till the ultimate moments anyway – Slot should now resolve whether or not to stay with Kerkez as his first-choice or return to Robertson.

Why did Liverpool signal Milos Kerkez?

With Robertson reaching the age of 30 and never taking part in to the identical commonplace as at his peak, Liverpool took the choice to herald a recent new face at full-back.

The worth for the 21-year-old got here to £40 million, the second-highest charge the Reds have ever paid for a defender after Virgil van Dijk.

At Bournemouth, he was voted the Premier League‘s greatest left-back of the 2024/25 season, offering six assists and scoring twice whereas taking part in all 38 league video games for Andoni Iraola’s spectacular staff.

Stuffed with vitality – solely 4 gamers made extra sprints than Kerkez within the Premier League final season – and with a ultimate supply to again his pace up, the Hungarian was seen as an excellent successor to Robertson.

The correct choice to begin Milos Kerkez?

Following a season during which the Scotland captain was typically suspect defensively, Slot made the choice to place Kerkez straight into the beginning XI.

Nevertheless, whether or not he ought to have finished so is up for debate. Kerkez was a legal responsibility in his first couple of video games however has improved.

Regardless of the advance, although, it has been levelled at Slot that Kerkez ought to have needed to bide his time earlier than going into the staff, like Robertson did to overhaul Alberto Moreno in 2017.

Whereas the Scot is now not in his prime, he has arguably carried out higher than Kerkez when referred to as upon this season.

This could possibly be all the way down to him having performed beneath Slot for longer, so he’s extra used to his strategies.

For instance, the Dutchman typically asks his full-backs to maneuver infield relatively than hug the touchline, one thing you possibly can see that Kerkez wasn’t requested to do continuously for Iraola.

At Liverpool, Robertson really made extra underlapping runs (39) than overlapping runs (33) over the course of the 2024/25 Premier League marketing campaign, in keeping with Opta.

During the last 12 months, FBRef tells us Robertson was the higher progressive passer, with 6.38 progressive passes per 90 minutes domestically in comparison with Kerkez’s 4.29.

In the meantime, the youthful of the pair most popular to run with the ball managing 2.38 progressive carries per 90. Robertson made 2.38 per 90 in that respect.

Statistics additionally confirmed Kerkez would obtain the ball increased up the pitch, reflecting his position as a flying overlapping left-back.

Kerkez obtained 5.31 progressive passes per 90, whereas Robertson obtained 3.91.

Who ought to begin for Liverpool at present?

Slot has arguably been too fast to vary a successful system from final season, although his hand was pressured partially.

There isn’t a defining reply to who must be first-choice, however for the time being, bringing Robertson again in may assist add stability to a Liverpool facet which has undergone main adjustments.

He already has regular on-field relationships with Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk. Rekindling these would assist deliver again some fluency to Liverpool’s play on the left.

After all, this doesn’t imply Kerkez could be omitted within the chilly; Robertson has began twice and are available on in 4 video games already this marketing campaign.

The teenager may then be allowed time to develop earlier than stepping as much as exchange his senior correctly within the coming years.

In spite of everything, like Florian Wirtz and Liverpool’s different signings, he signed a long-term contract. There isn’t any must rush the mission when final 12 months’s most popular XI gained the league.